Bill Lambert earned a BS from Ohio State University in 1968 and an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1972. After serving as managing director in the mergers group at First Boston Corporation, he and three partners came together to found Wasserstein, Perella & Co., Inc., in February 1988. When the firm was sold in 2000 to form Dresdner, Kleinwort & Wasserstein, a world-class investment bank with a quality advisory and relationship culture and full-service financing and distribution capabilities, he stayed on as vice chairman until his retirement in 2004.

In his retirement, Mr. Lambert is active in community affairs. In addition to his service as a member of the Board of Overseers at Columbia Business School, he is chairman of the advisory committee of the School’s Social Enterprise Program. He is a trustee of Northwestern University and a member of the university’s investment committee. He is also a trustee for the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State University and vice president of the board of directors of Urban Pathways, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless rebuild their lives.

Mr. Lambert lives in New York City with his wife, Sheila. Their son, Phineas, is a member of the class 2010 at Columbia Business School.